Shoe closure



June 10, 1930. c, DIETHER 1,762,615

SHOE CLOSURE Filed Sept. 4, I928 J flmrucys Patented June 10, 1930 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES F. DIETHER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA SHOE CLOSURE Application filed. September This invention relates to a shoe structure and particularly to a novel structure for closing the opening of a shoe at the front thereof.

As is well known, modern shoes are now commonly'open at the instep and this opening is held closed either by a lacing or by being buttoned. Considerable time is necessary in lacing up the shoe or to button the same and it is often desirable to have a shoe into which the foot can be inserted and which will automatically close the opening at the front thereof.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a shoe having a front opening with resilient means for automatically closing said opening after the foot is inserted into the shoe and for holding the opening closed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a shoe having a front opening at the instep portion for the insertion of a foot and having a resilient member having portions extending along the sides of the shoe adjacent the opening and a portion extending across the shoe at the lower end of the opening, said latter portion being secured to the shoe and said first mentioned portions being resiliently separable together with a flap covering the opening and said resilient member.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a shoe structure, as set forth in the preceding paragraph, in which the transversely extending portion of said r'esilient member is extensible.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe of the oxford type having the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a high shoe having the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a View of the front portion of the 4, 1928. Serial No. 203,863.

shoe, certain parts being broken away and others shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the. line 5-5 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the resilient element used detached, the same being shown in a different position in dotted lines;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the element shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a View in front elevation of a modified resilient element the same being shown in a different position in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2, shoes of common type are shown in which it will only be necessary to consider the side portions or quarters 10 and the vamp portion 11. The side portions 10 have their front edges spaced and in substantially parallel relation when the shoe is in wearing position. In accordance with the present invention, the edegs of said portions 10 at the front of the shoe are reversely bent and folded, as shown at 11, and the folded portion and main portion of said sides are secured together by stitching 12. A resilient member is provided and while this member might take various forms, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, said member is shown as the member 13. This member is formed of a somewhat stiff and resilient wire or small rod, the same having portions 13 of considerable extent, which portions are r'eversely bent at one end to form the loops 13", one side of said loops then extending in circular form and being connected by the substantially circular portion 13. The portions 13 normally tend to assume the position shown in Fig. 6, but can be resiliently moved toward each other to or farther together than the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6. The

,loop 13 is also capable of being flexed or contracted so that the loop portions 13 and thus the portions 13 can be moved slightly Ina-i apart. The member 13 is secured to the shoe with the portions 13 extending through the bight portion of the fold made in the edge of the side portions 10. The loops 13 are then disposed just at the lower portion the opening between the sides 10 and above the opencentral portion of the vamp 11. The member 13 is preferably secured to the vamp 11 by a small clip or staple 14 embracing the loop 13 and clinched on the vamp portion 11. A flap 15 is provided having parallel side portions and being ot a width suflicient to extend over the opening between side portions 10 and some distance beyond said opening. One edge of said flap 15 is permanently secured to one of the side portions 10 preferably by one row of the stitching 12, as shown in Fig. 5. The other edge otsaid flap will be provided with some quickly operable and detachable tastening means, such as a ball and socket snap fastener now commonly used. The socket portions of the fasteners will be secured along one side of the opening between the sides 10 and to one of said sides while the ball portions 16 will be secured to one edge of the flap 15. The portion 13" will be curved somewhat to suit a high shoe.

In operation, the shoe will normally be held in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the portions 13 holding the edges of the sides 10 in their closed position. hen the foot is to be inserted in the shoe the flap portion 15 will be loose at its detachable edge and the wearer can then slip his foot into the shoe spreading the side portions 10 apart and expanding the member 13 sozas to separate the portions 13 Ample room is thus provided for the insertion of the foot and after-the foot is in the shoe the portions 13 will resume their normal position when the shoe will be held closed. The flap is then placed over the opening and the fasteners 16 quickly engaged. These fasteners can be engaged by merely pressing down on the members 16 and are readily disengaged by merely lifting up one side of the flap. The foot is thus easily and quickly inserted in the shoe and the shoe very quickly placed in wearing position. As stated,the loop 13 can be contracted and some variation in the spacing of the members 13 can thus be had to suit different shoes.

In Fig. ,8 a modified form -17 of the resilient element is shown, comprising straight side portions 17 connected by the slightly curvedtransverse portions 17 The members 17 will be secured in the shoe in the same manner as the member 13, the portion 17 preferably being connected to the vamp by a means similar to the staple 14:. The operation of the shoe with the members 17 therein will be the same asalready described.

From the above description it will be seen that applicant has provided a very simple and efiicient structure for closing the opening of a shoe and holding the same closed and one by means of which the shoe can be very quickly placed on the foot and in Wearing position. It is thus not necessary to but-- ton up the shoe or to lace up the same and no eyelets, lacings, hooks, or buttons are required. The structure is simple and can be easily and inexpensively produced. It is obvious that the same will have great utility for the purpose intended.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form,

details, arrangement and proportions of the device without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, such as shown. and described in the appended claim.

lVhat is claimed is:

A shoe having an opening at its front portion for the insertion of the foot, a resilient member having portions extending along the sides of the shoe adjac'ent'the edges of said opening and secured thereto for holding said opening in normally closed position, having a portion connecting said portions extending transversely therebetween at the lower end of'said opening, means for securing the latter portion to the shoe at the vamp, and a flap secured at one side of said opening and extending over the same a'nd said member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES F. DIETHER. 

